Help wanted: Tough guy — must throw elbows

COLUMBIA - If one state House race was any indication, Republican voters aren't squeamish about a little blood.

South Carolina Republicans may be looking for a tough guy to channel their anger at the Obama Administration and Democratic Congress.

On Tuesday, Aiken Republicans were willing to embrace a bare-knuckled campaigner, even if that candidate was beating up one of their own.

Take Tuesday's ouster of incumbent Rep. Jim Stewart, a conservative Sanford Republican who has never faced a re-election foe. Both Stewart and Taylor touted Tea Party positions, although Taylor won the local groups' endorsements.

Voters chose Taylor, despite the fact that the four-term incumbent's eight years in office put him in line for the House Ways and Means Committee, a coveted assignment because it puts members in a key position to shape the state budget to their constituents' advantage.

Before the primary Taylor posted a highly critical video on his website in which he pummeled Stewart point by point.

Taylor, a retired TV anchorman, news director and media researcher from Illinois, said he first tested his infomercial by presenting it to a group.

Afterward he said he asked the audience, "Am I too negative? Was it too tough? I'm not a negative campaigner.... Was it unfair?"

What did the audience say?

"They said absolutely not," said Taylor.

"This was an older group of viewers, in their 60s and 70s. They said, 'No, that needs to be told to people.'"